Hurricane Dennis developed in the eastern Caribbean on the 5th and moved northwest and exited the northwest coast of Cuba early on the 9th.  The center of Hurricane Dennis passed 220 miles east of Fort Myers Beach around 9 PM EDT on the 9th and passed 200 miles east of Cedar Key around 10 AM EDT on the 10th.  Tropical storm force sustained winds of 39 MPH or greater were intermittent within rain bands around Dennis.  These bands did produce 7 tornadoes and 1 waterspout in southwest and west central Florida.  No significant wind damage was reported. The maximum storm surge of 3 feet did not affect the area until Sunday the 10th around 4 AM EDT. The surge caused moderate beach erosion and destroyed up to 80 percent of the sea turtle nests. Seas were 5 to 7 feet with some waves up to 10 feet.  Four to six inches of rain fell near Punta Gorda and Fort Myers but no significant flood damage was reported.  In Lee County, maximum winds were estimated at 40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH along Sanibel Island.  No significant damage was reported.In Charlotte County, maximum winds at the Punta Gorda airport were measured at 40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH.  Three Cape Coral residents drowned around 11 PM EDT on the 10th when their Sports Utility Vehicle overturned into a ditch filled with rainwater near the intersection of Bermont Road (SR 74) and Ronco Road.  The road was covered with 6 inches of water and caused the vehicle to hydroplane into a ditch where it flipped upside down.  The victims were still wearing their seat belts when found. Two other vehicles  hydroplaned into a ditch in the same area but they managed to get out of their vehicles without injury.In Sarasota and Manatee counties sustained winds remained 3-5 knots below tropical storm force.In Hillsborugh County, a maximum wind gust of 55 MPH was recorded in Temple Terrace from a home weather station 100 feet above the ground on a condominium.  The gusty winds broke off a 1000 pound church steeple near Hyde Park in Tampa. In Pinellas County, maximum winds were recorded at 44 MPH with gusts to 58 MPH at the Saint Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. There was one minor injury as a pickup drove off a downslope of the Howard Frankland Bridge about 1 PM Sunday as the driver overcompensated when a strong gust of wind pushed him into the left hand lane.In Pasco County sustained winds remained 5 knots below tropical storm force. In Citrus County, winds estimated at 40 MPH with gusts to 55 MPH 4 miles northeast of Crystal River downed several large trees and caused minor damage to a metal roof. The estimated damage was $1,500.  In Levy County, Cedar Key recorded sustained winds of 40 MPH with gusts to 46 MPH.  Damage of $500 thousand on Cedar Key was related to surge flooding and not wind damge.  A spotter in Cheifland recorded wind gusts to 56 MPH using his handheld anemometer.

Tropical Storm in LEE, FLORIDA
From 09-JUL-05 06:00:00 to 09-JUL-05 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Tropical Storm in CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA
From 09-JUL-05 06:00:00 to 09-JUL-05 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Tropical Storm in PINELLAS, FLORIDA
From 09-JUL-05 05:44:00 to 09-JUL-05 18:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Tropical Storm in LEVY, FLORIDA
From 09-JUL-05 10:00:00 to 09-JUL-05 23:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Tropical Storm in CITRUS, FLORIDA
From 09-JUL-05 17:00:00 to 09-JUL-05 23:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 2K
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Tropical Storm in HILLSBOROUGH, FLORIDA
From 09-JUL-05 10:00:00 to 09-JUL-05 18:00:00 (EST)
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC